Peace Corps volunteer Jaclyn Schaap spent 2 years with a polygamous family in Swaziland

"Being in a polygamous family was very interesting and new to me. I learnt so much and I must say I've come to have respect for Swazi traditional polygamy," she said. There were three wives in the family. She also discovered that the third woman used to be a wife to a brother of her current husband. Describing her first year with the family, Schaap said: "At first there was bit of culture shock but as time went on I blended in well. I remember being given cooked chicken feet (tintwane) to eat. I tried very hard to enjoy them, although it was a strange thing for me." Since she was in a polygamous family, there were about 20 children and they all made her feel welcome and taught her more of the Swazi language.

MBABANE – She left the comfort of her home and travelled thousands of kilometres to Swaziland just so she could experience the harsh life of rural areas for two years.

Jaclyn Schaap from the United States of America had an idea what she was getting herself into, for she had joined the Peace Corps.

Although she kept an open mind, nothing could have prepared her for traditional Swazi food like Ligusha (okra), and also using the pit-latrine. She never really got used to the texture of the okra, nor the flies buzzing in the pit-latrine.

Schaap (25) lived with a certain polygamous Sibandze family in New Heaven in Hlathikhulu, Shiselweni region. Like all Peace Corps volunteers who live with a Swazi family, she was given a native name, hers was Sihle Sibandze. She lived there from 2008 to 2009.

"Being in a polygamous family was very interesting and new to me. I learnt so much and I must say I've come to have respect for Swazi traditional polygamy," she said.

There were three wives in the family.

She also discovered that the third woman used to be a wife to a brother of her current husband.

Shock

Describing her first year with the family, Schaap said: "At first there was bit of culture shock but as time went on I blended in well. I remember being given cooked chicken feet (tintwane) to eat. I tried very hard to enjoy them, although it was a strange thing for me."

Since she was in a polygamous family, there were about 20 children and they all made her feel welcome and taught her more of the Swazi language. Schaap got used to the typical Swazi diet of porridge and beans and also liked soft porridge (incwancwa).

She did not live with the Sibandzes just for the fun of it; she had a mission, which was to teach about HIV and AIDS. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and Spanish obtained from the University of Siouxfalls in the Iowa State.

"I worked at New Heaven High School as an English teacher. I once organised a letter exchange between my pupils and those from America. The purpose was to learn about each other's cultures and talk about HIV issues."

"We did listening comprehension and also made costumes to do a short play about HIV and looking after oneself," explained Schaap.

What she found particularly odd was that some of her pupils were her age or almost. Even so, the whole school was nice to her.

Spent

At home with the Sibandzes she became very close to Thobile whom she spent lots of time with. She taught Schaap how to cook Swazi food, carrying a water bucket on her head and also tidying up the home among other things. She became comfortable enough to take a bus alone to Nhlangano town, something she thoroughly enjoyed.

Schaap's best memory with the Sibandzes was being with Thobile through her pregnancy and then becoming one of the first people to hold her newborn. To see the child grow over the months was exciting.

She also attended the Reed Dance and Incwala ceremonies. She added: "One time I also met the King's wife Inkhosikati LaMatsebula and had tea with her."

The Inkhosikati is the Patron of Peace Corps in Swaziland.

Thobile, in an interview, said living with Schaap was an unforgettable experience.

She said the children loved her, more so because she bought sweets and other nice things for them.

"At first we were scared of her, being a white woman and all that. But we got used to her and enjoyed her stay with us. I recall she never got used to eating chicken insides (offal)," said Thobile.

Meanwhile, Schaap's volunteer colleague Kimberly Johnson was placed with a Tsabedze family in Malindza, Lubombo region. Her name was Nolwazi Tsabedze.

Johnson (26) was not doing badly at all with her family in Malindza. She said they made her feel comfortable and welcome. She said Swazis were very hospitable people.

"I enjoyed working at the KaGogo Centre convening meetings and discussing many issues facing the community. I even weeded the fields," she said.

Before Johnson joined the Peace Corps she was a waiter at a coffee shop known as Star Bucks. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology and Art she obtained at California State University.

She joined the Peace Corps to experience different cultures around the world. One of her best memories was when her parents came to Swaziland and went to live with her for a week. Apart from spending time with the Tsabedzes, her best memory was also watching the constellation of stars during clear evening skies. Johnson and Schaap's two year contracts were extended by a year. They are now based in the capital and work at the Baylor Clinic.

‘Love proposals stressful'

MBABANE – One of the things that got stressful for Peace Corps' Jaclyn Schaap and Kimberly Johnson were the incessant love proposals they received from Swazi men.

Schaap said: "I've had a lot of Swazi men propose love to me and I would turn them down. Sometimes it got too much, for instance there was this man who persistently wanted my phone number."

Similar

Johnson also had a similar experience. She said some men even wanted her for a wife and kept trying their luck with her.

"It was strange at first to hear a stranger telling me they had fallen in love with me and wanted to be in a relationship with me. The first time it happened, I thought it was just a joke but when I realised he was serious, I turned him down," said Johnson.

She said she had a boyfriend back home in the States, while Schaap said she was not involved with anyone.

Both said having strangers proposing love on the streets was new to them.

In the American culture people have to know each other first before they can propose love.

Support Independent Funding for the Third GoalThe Peace Corps has always neglected the third goal, allocating less than 1% of their resources to "bringing the world back home." Senator Dodd addressed this issue in the "Peace Corps for the 21st Century" bill passed by the US Senate and Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter proposed a "Peace Corps Foundation" at no cost to the US government. Both are good approaches but the recent "Comprehensive Assessment Report" didn't address the issue of independent funding for the third goal at all.

Memo to Incoming Director WilliamsPCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams

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Story Source: Times of Swaziland

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Swaziland; Marriage; Women's Issues

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